A few years before joining Job Duck, I found myself stuck in an unhealthy cycle where the term “self-love” simply did not exist.
I spent time thinking that if I were hard on myself, I would be more successful. I believed that skipping lunch or ignoring my exhaustion was just the price of being a “good worker.”
But I was wrong. Eventually, the bill comes due. Growing tired and starting to wonder why everything in life feels like an obstacle is a very high price to pay.
My name is Morné, Job Duck’s content writer, and a few years ago, I realized that I had to start loving myself again.
The Stories I Compare Myself To
The internet, and more specifically social media, had a major influence on how I used to see life. I read articles about successful people, but never read about the struggles they once faced. I scrolled through social media and saw people living a perfect life, with no sign of imperfect captions.
All of this happened while I was sitting in an office that told the story I had never read about. It took a toll on me. I had no work-life balance, barely any money, and no team to lean on when things got tough. I thought that I wouldn’t be successful in my life. There was too much doubt, no motivation, and most importantly, no self-love.
If you can relate to my story, I encourage you to keep reading, because what I’m about to share comes from years of observation, experience, and studies.
The High Cost of Being Mean to Yourself
I will never forget the way I felt when I made a mistake at work or said something awkward.
At the time, I believed that self-criticism would motivate me. Unfortunately, it made things worse. I became stressed and far less productive.
What I’ve learned is that your brain cannot solve problems when it feels attacked. Instead, it goes into protection mode, triggering the same stress response as external criticism.
On top of that, it becomes difficult to solve issues when you are fighting yourself. As a result, I knew I had to change something, anything really. I took a deep breath, wrote down possible solutions, and decided to be kinder to myself. I noticed a difference almost immediately.
Burnout Is Not Just About Being Busy
Have you ever worked for a company that never allows rest or understanding? You probably wanted to quit, right?
Yet many of us live with an inner voice that treats us the same way. It keeps raising the bar and doesn’t seem to notice how much we are already dealing with.
What breaks us down isn’t always the amount of work we have. It’s the pressure we put on ourselves by believing we are not good enough. That mindset provokes us to push ourselves beyond limits.
The truth is, you are good enough. I am. We all are. Self-love means setting a boundary with your own inner critic. It is saying, “I am tired, and that is allowed.”
It Is Okay to Be a “Work in Progress”
One of the biggest mistakes I made was waiting for a better day to be kind to myself. I told myself in the mirror, “I will love you when I have more time,” or “I will be happy when I get that promotion.”
That is a hole I am glad I climbed out of. I realized that you do not earn the right to be treated well. You already have that right because you are alive. If you wait until you are perfect to start being kind to yourself, you will be waiting forever.
Failure is going to happen. You will drop the ball. You will say the wrong thing. But when you have your own back, failure doesn’t feel like the end of the world. Trust yourself. Love yourself.
When Support at Work Makes Self-Love Easier
Lastly, having actual support in the workplace can help more than we realize. I’ve met an incredible team at Job Duck that’s always willing to assist where needed. This team has my back.
That said, if you feel like you need a different career to get back on track, I encourage you to explore Job Duck’s latest opportunities. Sometimes self-love begins in a supportive work environment.
Do you think self-love is an important topic to bring up more often? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Have a wonderful day!
